2025 Zurich Classic Preview: Betting Picks, Odds, Course Preview and Prediction from TPC Louisiana
2025 Zurich Classic Preview: Betting Picks, Odds, Course Preview and Prediction from TPC Louisiana
The Zurich Classic of New Orleans is the only PGA Tour event that is played in a team format. This week, 80 teams are set to compete in better ball and alternate shot.
After playing each of these formats once in Round 1 and Round 2, the lowest 33 teams, plus ties, will make the cut. TPC Louisiana typically yields a lot of birdies on its par 72 Pete Dye design, so expect a lot of fluctuation on the leaderboard.
There have been some big names that have won the Zurich Classic in recent years. Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy, who are defending champions, return as the outright betting favorite this year at +360 odds. Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele won in 2022, setting records in alternate shot (63) and best ball (59) during their victory.
Other favorites in the outright betting market ahead of Round 1 on Thursday include Kurt Kitayama and Collin Morikawa at +1400, Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin at +2200, as well as 2018 Zurich Classic winner, Billy Horschel, paired with Tom Hoge for the first time at +2500. J.T. Poston and Keith Mitchell are +1800, while Taylor Moore and Wyndham Clark are also valued as a top-five duo.
PGA handicapper Matt MacKay is back to preview the upcoming Zurich Classic of New Orleans at TPC Louisiana this week, including four outright picks to bet with the latest odds. Each pick is on one team (duo) and worth a one-unit wager. Follow Matt's X account for more PGA betting analysis and free picks throughout the 2025 PGA Tour season.
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2025 ZURICH CLASSIC ODDS
Click here for complete 2025 Zurich Classic Odds
2025 ZURICH CLASSIC DATE, TIME, AND WHERE TO WATCH
- Date: Thursday, April 24 - Sunday, April 27, 2025
- Time: 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM ET
- How to Watch: ESPN+, Golf Channel, CBS
TPC LOUISIANA OVERVIEW
TPC Louisiana is a par 72 that runs 7,425 yards. Water hazards abound but there are minimal trees and relatively expansive fairways to create plenty of clean lies off-the-tee and on approach.
Designed by Pete Dye and established in 2003, TPC Louisiana became host to this exclusive team formatted event in 2017. The rough is only two inches and not overseeded. There are plenty of sprawling sand bunkers to gobble up errant shots that don't find water.
The greens are overseeded TifEagle Bermudagrass, measuring 12.5 feet via Stimpmeter. All four par 3s are over 200 yards off-the-tee. Four par 4s are under 400 yards, creating great opportunities to collect birdies and an occasional eagle.
The forecast calls for warm temperatures in the 80s with minimal precipitation and wind. We could see teams set more records at TPC Louisiana in these favorable conditions.
2025 ZURICH CLASSIC OUTRIGHT PICKS
LOWRY-MCILROY (+360) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best Zurich Classic odds
I'll gladly ride the chalk with Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy as favorites to defend their 2024 Zurich Classic title at +360 odds. McIlroy is having a sensational season thus far, winning half of his events, including an epic playoff win at the Masters to finally complete his career Grand Slam.
McIlroy's ranked first in total strokes gained, including off-the-tee, as well as first in scoring average. There are minimal flaws in his game right now. Lowry's putter is suspect but he's excellent tee-to-green, ranked 12th SG: Approach.
We could see this number shorten quickly if this duo gets off to another hot start like they did at 11-under-par during better ball in Round 1 last year. Let's bet a unit on Lowry and McIlroy at +360 to become the first duo to record back-to-back wins at the Zurich Classic.
MOORE-CLARK (+2200) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best Zurich Classic odds
Taylor Moore missed the cut with Matthew NeSmith at this event last year. Now, he's teaming up with Wyndham Clark. In 2023, Clark and Beau Hossler logged a solo third-place finish, one stroke lower than Moore and NeSmith at 27-under-par.
Moore has a pair of top 10 finishes in 2025. He's ranked 20th SG: Off-the-Tee and 33rd at finding greens in regulation. He's also 18th in scoring average.
Clark is a proven winner on the PGA Tour and he's got plenty of talent with his putter, ranked 38th in putting average and 36th in one-putt percentage this season. The Colorado native also ranks 23rd in driving distance, 51st at finding greens in regulation and 20th proximity.
Despite playing together for the first time, both players have great track records at this event with other teammates. I expect Moore and Clark to be in contention on Sunday, so let's stake a quarter unit (0.25) to win 5.25 units of profit at 22-1.
HORSCHEL-HOGE (+2500) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best Zurich Classic odds
Billy Horschel knows his way around TPC Louisiana. He won here with Scott Piercy in 2018 at 22-under-par. Horschel missed the cut at this event in 2024 but previously went T11-2-T4-T13 dating back to his win in 2018.
Horschel will be joining forces with Tom Hoge for the first time and I love this duo's combined skillset. Hoge is a fantastic iron player, ranked 12th SG: Approach this season, while also 17th in proximity.
Horschel's asset is his putter. He's ranked outside the top 100 in SG: Off-the-Tee and at finding greens in regulation. However, he'll feel more comfortable at a course he's historically dominated, while playing alongside a precise ball-striker like Hoge.
I'll throw another quarter unit down on Horschel and Hoge to win the 2025 Zurich Classic at +2500 odds.
HOJGAARD-HOJGAARD (+2800) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best Zurich Classic odds
Twins Nicolai Hojgaard and Rasmus Hojgaard could make some serious noise at the Zurich Classic this week. The Denmark golfers are powerful off-the-tee, with Rasmus ranking ninth in driving distance and 26th on approach shots from 200+ yards.
Nicolai Hojgaard is 36th in total strokes gained, including 24th SG: Approach and 39th SG: Putting. I'll venture to say Nicolai's shots will likely be leaned on during better ball rounds. He's also a quality golfer with his driver, ranked 33rd in total driving, including 20th for driving distance.
TPC Louisiana feels like a course where the Hojgaard twins can flex their muscle and create a lot of birdie opportunities. They missed the cut here in 2024 but Nicolai did card a 32 finish without his brother in 2023, while Rasmus missed another cut in 2021.
Both brothers have improved their game, especially Nicolai tee-to-green. At 28-1, let's sprinkle a 0.10 unit wager to win 2.8 units of profit on the Denmark twins to make a run for the outright win at TPC Louisiana this week.
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Matt is an avid writer, editor, and researcher. He enjoys analyzing the game within the game which is fantasy sports and sports betting. Music is another constant in his daily life. Matt loves spending time with his wife and three pets. He likes to read, listen to podcasts, and is constantly motivated to create the most accurate and engaging content in the sports betting industry.